misunderstood listing?

[Anne64]

Do you have to post a review after hosting a group. I had an uncomfortable experience with some ladies that just checked out. I think it may have been lack of communication since they don't speak English. I suspect they thought they were getting the whole house (they completely took over the common areas to the point that I felt I had to retreat to my bedroom or to work, and had to eat out since they filled my refrigerator with their food and made elaborate meals from the time they got up in the morning) even though not listed that way. They rearranged furniture to their liking and left lights on when they left.

They were not bad people, but I don't think I would feel right recommending these people. But I hate to leave a bad review.

Any others have a similar experience?

[Kevina0]

I have had similar experiences with my first few guests and I didnt leave review because i didnt tell them right away that this wasnt allowed.
I had no leg to stand on.
However, in the private feedback, i did mention they shouldn't have taken over the whole house as it wasnt what they had booked. They apologised and said i should have told them 🙂 which is totally fair 🙂
I am not sure how much communication you had with your guests, but i hope you figure something out 🙂

[Anne64]

Where can you leave private feedback? Is it just through the messaging? Thanks for your response.

[Kevina0]

I have since then totally changed my house rules and spelt everything out, and remind the guests of the rules as i show them through the flat when they check in.

When you get sent the email to review your guests, you have the option of leaving a private feedback as well as the public one before you click send. Hope this helps 🙂

[Donna15]

@Anne64, I feel you need to be much more specific in your house rules with regard to the open space and in particular the kitchen.

As guests are not occupying a 'whole house', they should not be having access to the kitchen from morning till night. 

You could state something like the fact that breakfast can be prepared between 8-9am, and dinner between 6-8pm, but that the kitchen is out of bounds in the hours between. And that they guests' food items must remain confined to the one designated shelf.

Be sure to emphasise that you live on the premises, and therefore only a moderate use of the kitchen and living area is possible for guests. 

Just a couple of ideas. 🙂

Actually, your house rules could be beefed up in other ways as well. I suggest looking at how other hosts in your region describe their listings and set boundaries. (My own house rules, for instance, are very, very specific, but that helps to avoid misunderstandings.)

[Anne64]

Thank you very much for the feedback. After they checked in and I saw what was happening, I did modify my listing somewhat to indicate one shelf in the refrigerator and modest use of the kitchen. I need to think of more ways to be super clear in the future.

[Gerry-And-Rashid0]

It's quite easy to do in the email exchange you have with your guests - remember, most people don't read the house rules.

As pointed out by another host on this thread you can say in a friendly and polite way something like:

Very happy for you to use the kitchen between x and x hrs for breakfast, and between x and x hrs for dinner. Let me know if you think you will do so and I will have an empty shelf in the fridge for you to keep your food.